John Barnett : “Insight into Boeing Whistleblower Death”

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (WCBD) – The Charleston Police Department (CPD) and Charleston County Coroner’s Office released documents on Friday shedding light on the tragic passing of John Barnett, a prominent Boeing whistleblower.

John Barnett, aged 62, tragically passed away on March 9, 2024, from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, as confirmed by the Charleston County Coroner’s Office in their initial victim identification report.

Amidst online speculations, the Charleston Police reiterated that Barnett’s death was likely a suicide, with findings from their investigation supporting this conclusion.

A TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Security footage from the local Holiday Inn on Savannah Highway provided insights into Barnett’s movements on the evening of March 8, prior to his demise. The footage showed Barnett entering the hotel alone at 7:26 p.m., proceeding to his room at 7:36 p.m., and finally exiting the building by himself at 8:37 p.m.

According to the police report, “Mr. Barnett’s vehicle was captured on video reversing into a parking space at 8:45 p.m., where it remained stationary until it was discovered by officers the following morning. Throughout the night, there was no video evidence of anyone interacting with the vehicle, entering it, or the vehicle leaving its parking spot.”

Hotel staff discovered Barnett during a welfare check and promptly alerted 9-1-1 at 10:13 a.m. the next morning.

Law enforcement officers were dispatched to the hotel for a welfare check just before 10:20 a.m., where they found a male individual inside a vehicle with a gunshot wound to the head.

Tragically, Barnett was pronounced deceased at the scene.

PREVIOUS EVENTS LEADING TO THE TRAGIC INCIDENT

Extensive investigations by the Charleston County Coroner’s Office revealed that Barnett had traveled from his Louisiana residence to Charleston on February 26 to participate in a deposition related to his lawsuit against Boeing.

Boeing attorneys deposed Barnett on March 7, followed by his own attorneys on March 8. The deposition was paused ahead of schedule to allow participants to rest, with plans to resume the next morning at 10:00 a.m.

“At approximately 0900 hours on March 9, 2024, a courtesy call was made to the decedent by his attorneys; however, he did not respond. Consequently, his attorneys contacted the hotel for a welfare check. Hotel staff searched the premises and parking lot, eventually discovering Mr. Barnett in his vehicle,” the coroner’s report disclosed.

THE FATAL INCIDENT

The police investigation confirmed that Barnett sustained a fatal gunshot wound at close range inside his locked vehicle. No signs of forced entry or physical altercation were observed within the vehicle.

The key fob for the vehicle was found in Barnett’s trousers pocket.

Authorities reported finding a silver Smith and Wesson handgun in Barnett’s right hand, with ballistic analysis confirming that the recovered bullet matched the firearm. The bullet’s trajectory aligned with the observed gunshot wound. Mr. Barnett had legally purchased the gun in 2000, as per Charleston PD.

According to the coroner’s report, the entrance wound was located on the right temple, with an exit wound towards the parietooccipital region.

A single-fired shell casing was discovered during the vehicle search.

A NOTE UNCOVERED INSIDE THE VEHICLE

Both the police department and coroner’s office disclosed the discovery of a note inside Barnett’s vehicle. The notebook, containing writing resembling a suicide note according to the coroner, was found on the passenger seat.

The Charleston Police Department shared a copy of the note, which included messages to family members and expressed discontent towards Boeing. Investigators noted that the note indicated Barnett was grappling with significant personal distress.

“Comprehensive fingerprint analysis confirmed Mr. Barnett’s fingerprints on the notebook. While three prints were inconclusive due to insufficient detail for identification, all fingerprints on the note page were identified as Mr. Barnett’s,” the police department stated.

BARNETT’S MENTAL WELL-BEING

Insights provided by the Charleston County Coroner’s Office, gathered from medical records and interviews with family members, attorneys, and associates, indicated that Barnett was under chronic stress linked to the lawsuit. Additionally, he suffered from anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and was grieving the loss of his wife.

Law enforcement officials noted that Barnett had long-standing mental health challenges that were exacerbated by the legal proceedings surrounding his whistleblower case.

THE WHISTLEBLOWER ALLEGATIONS

John Barnett, a seasoned 32-year Boeing employee, made claims in 2019 alleging that Boeing’s overworked North Charleston staff frequently installed substandard parts on aircraft and reported faulty oxygen systems that could potentially render one in four oxygen masks ineffective.

While Boeing refuted Barnett’s allegations, a subsequent investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided some validation for his claims. The report uncovered more than 50 “non-conforming” parts that were untraceable and lost within the company’s system.

Both the Charleston Police Department and Charleston County Coroner’s Office issued statements regarding their investigations into Barnett’s tragic passing.

“We are fully aware of the sensitivity and public interest surrounding this case. It is crucial to highlight that our investigation was solely guided by facts and evidence, devoid of conjecture or external influence. As we conclude this investigation, let us not forget that it represents the loss of Mr. Barnett’s life. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family during this challenging period, and we hope they find the strength to endure his absence,” expressed the police department.

“It has been a privilege to support the Barnett Family during this trying time. I hope that John Barnett is remembered not for the way he left this world, but for the way he lived his life,” remarked Charleston County Coroner Bobbi Jo O’Neal.

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This article contains content related to suicide. If you require assistance, please contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing or texting 988. You can also chat online at 988lifeline.org.